US3172538A - Frozen food rack - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1965 v. w. FOWLER 3,172,538

FROZEN FOOD RACK Filed March 12, 1963 Fig. 2

United States Patent 3,172,538 FRGZEN FOOD RAGK Vernal W. Fowler, 1930 Van Buren Ava, Ogden, Utah Filed Mar. 12, 1963, 501'. No. 264,639 7 Claims. (Ci. 211-49) The present invention is generally concerned with new and useful improvements in frozen food racks and in particular, is concerned with an adjustable rack wherein the number of food receiving compartments can be varied so as to produce a rack of any desired size and shape for reception in for example, an enlarged freezer chest of the type found in supermarkets.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rack for frozen food containers which will enable a systematic stacking of frozen food containers so as to allow easy access to the containers by, for example, shoppers, thus avoiding the confusion and difliculty now normally attendant in retrieving a particular commodity from the generally scrambled assortment of containers.

Along the same lines of the above object, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a rack wherein the containers are positioned so as to enable the shopper to easily grasp an individual container for the removal of such container.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide for a rack, composed of a plurality of novel sections, which can be constructed so as to include any number of food container receiving compartments from one on up.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rack which, in addition to providing for a neat display of the products, also substantially eliminates the tearing or crushing of the containers, particularly the corners, flaps and end closures thereof.

Another significant object residing in the particular rack of the present invention is the manner in which the lowermost container in each compartment is spaced above the bottom of the freezer case so as to provide for a better circulation of the cold air.

In achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the food rack of the present invention be composed generally of three different types of posts, posts which are L-shaped in cross-section, posts which are T-shaped in cross-section, and posts having a cross-section in the form of an equilateral cross. The lower end of each of the posts is to be rigidly aflixed to a flat rectangular base plate which is in turn releasably secured to a support composed of right angularly related angle members positioned so as to open downwardly and being of a length so as to have the outer ends thereof projecting beyond the adjoining edge of the rectangular base plate. Finally, elongated downwardly opening angular connecting links are to be provided for releasable attachment to the angular support members.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an assembled rack;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of a rack constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one form of post along with the various other components comprising the present invention;

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FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of the upper end of a second form of post; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view of the upper end of the third type of post utilized.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, this rack, while having been illustrated as including nine food container receiving compartments, being capable of actually including any desired number of compartments as shall be appreciated from the following description.

The rack 10 includes three different types of posts 12, 14 and 16, each post consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally directed flanges angularly related to each other. The post 12, functioning as an intermediate post, contains four flanges 18 and has a cross-sectional shape substantially in the form of an equilateral cross, the post 14, functioning as a side post, consists of three flanges 20 and has a cross-sectional shape substantially in the form of a T, and the corner post 16, consisting of two flanges 22, has a cross-sectional shape in the form of an L.

With attention specifically directed toward FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the lower end of each post 12 is rigidly affixed to a flat generally square base plate 24 which is in turn releasably attached, as by screws 26, to a cross support 28 which is formed of downwardly opening angle members 30 having the outer ends thereof extending beyond the adjacent side of the plates 24. These outwardly extending ends on the angle members 28 are specifically provided for nesting within similarly shaped angular connecting links 32 which are used to releasably secure the posts together in spaced relation to each other for the forming of a food receiving compartment therebetween. The angular links 32, also opening downwardly so as to be received over the members 28, are secured to the projecting ends of the members 28 by screw means 34 extending through apertures 36 and 38 in the members 28 and 32.

As will be appreciated from FIGURES l and 2, the side and corner posts 14 and 16 are also provided with base plates 40 and 42, the base plate 40 being approximately one-half the size of the base plate 24 and the base plate 42 being approximately one-quarter the size of the base plate 24. Each side post 14 is secured at an intermediate point along one longitudinal edge of a base plate 40 with the outer face 44 thereof flush with this edge. Each corner post 16 is secured to a corner of the corner base plate 42 in a manner so as to position the outer angularly related faces 46 thereof flush with the two adjacent edges of the plate 42. Further, it will be appreciated that the posts 14 and 16 are, similar to the posts 12, provided with angular member supports to which the base plates 40 and 42 are secured, the support for each post 14 consisting of three angular members extending outwardly beyond the edges of the plate 40 in the same vertical plane as the adjoining flange 20, and the angular members of the corner post supports 16 being two in number and projecting beyond the sides of the base plates 42 in the same vertical plane as the flanges 22, the angular connecting links 32 being engageable with these members in the same manner described supra in regard to the members 30. With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that such an arrangement provides for the inward projection of a base plate corner at each corner of the compartments formed by the interconnecting of the posts.

These inwardly projecting plate corners are specifically provided for the support of the food cartons or containers 48 above the supporting surface so as to allow for a desired circulation of cold air underneath the stacked cartons, the use of angular connecting links 32 facilitating this circulation of air.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the food'containers 48 to the compartments, it is preferred that the upper ends of each of the flanges 18, 20 and 22 be beveled, as at 59, on each of the upper inwardly directed edges, thus providing in effect an enlarged inwardly tapering mouth for guiding the container. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the removal of the containers, it is contemplated that each of the flanges be of a thickness so as to allow for the insertion of one or more fingers in the space formed between adjoining rows of containers thereby allowing for an easy grasping of a container for effecting its removal. With reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the provision of upper beveled edges on the post flanges, also enables a stable stacking of one rack upon another with these upper beveled edges being engaged within the downwardly opening angular members of the superimposed rack.

From the foregoing, it should now be readily appreciated that a novel rack means has been defined, this rack means being composed of a plurality of individual members which enable the construction of the rack with any desired number of vertically extending compartments, each compartment being so formed as to allow for the easy stacking of the food containers therein and the equally easy removal of the individual containers, thus avoid the frustration normally accompanying an attempt to maintain frozen food containers in an orderly arrangernent.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A food carton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, means releasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation to each other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, each compartment being bounded by four uprights, one at each corner thereof, each. upright including carton guiding means therealong, said interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of individual connecting links, each link extending between an adjacent pair of uprights.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each upright includes a vertical post, a rectangular base plate secured to the lower end of the post and support means beneath,

said base plate for positioning said base plate a fixed distance above the surface upon which the rack rests, each base plate projecting laterally beyond its post a short distance into the adjacent compartments so as to form, in conjunction with the base plates of the posts defining these adjacent compartments, a raised carton supporting bottom for each compartment.

3. A food car-ton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, means releasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation to each other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, each compartment being bounded by four uprights, one at each corner thereof, each upright including a vertical post, a rectangular base plate secured to the lower end of the post and support means beneath said base plate for positioning said base plate a fixed distance above the surface beyond which the rack rests, said base plates projecting laterally upon the posts and into the adjoining compartments so as to form a raised carton supporting bottom for each compartment, three different types of posts being used, an intermediate type, utilized in the formation of four adjoining compartments, consisting of four elongated flanges and having a cross section in the shape of an equilateral cross, a side type, utilized in the formation of two adjoining compartments, consisting of three elongated flanges and having a T-shaped cross-section, and a corner type, utilized in the formation of a corner compartment, consisting of two elongated flanges ar ranged at right angles to each other, the flanges constituting the canton guiding means, the support means beneath each base plate consisting of downwardly opening angle members arranged at right angles to each other with the number of angle members corresponding to the number of flanges, and with each anglemember being in substantially the same verticalplane of one of the flanges, and said means releasably interconnecting said uprights each consisting of an elongated angular bar nestably receiving one of said angle members at each end thereof.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein each of the flanges is of a thickness so as to provide a space between adjoining compartments suflicient to accommodate fingers to enable the grasping of a carton located in one of the compartments.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the upper ends of the posts are beveled along those edges facing toward the formed compartments so as to provide an enlarged upper end for each compartment.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of the posts includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flanges, each flange projecting laterally outwardly at approximately a right angle to the adjacent flange so as to define the corner of one ofthe compartments therebetween, the support means beneath each base plate consisting of elongated downwardly projecting members arranged at right angles to each other, each member being in substantially the same vertical plane of one of the flanges, said members projecting beyond the base plates, said connecting links being releasably engaged with the projecting portions of said members.

7. A food carton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, means releasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation to each other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, each compartment being bounded by four uprights, one'at each corner thereof, each upright including a vertical post, a rectangular base plate secured to the lower end of the post and support means beneath said base plate for positioning said base plate a fixed distance above the surface.

upon which the rack rests, said base plates projecting laterally beyond the posts and into the adjoining compartments so as to form a raised carton supporting bottom for each compartment, each of said posts including a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flanges, each flange projecting laterally outward and approximately at right angles to an adjacent flange so as todefine the corner of one of the compartments therebetween, the support means beneath each base plate consisting of outwardly opening angle members arranged at right angles to each other with the number of angle members corresponding to the number of flanges and with each angle member being in substantially the same vertical plane of one of the flanges, and said means releasably interconnecting said uprights each consisting of an elongated angular bar nestably receiving one of said angle members at each end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,256 Hoop Jan. 26, 1943 2,889,924 Paulucci June 9, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,952 Canada Apr. 26, 1960 754,312 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1956 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

,1 wil I

Claims (1)

1. A FOOD CARTON RACK CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHTS, MEANS RELEASABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID UPRIGHTS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER IN A MANNER SO AS TO FORM COMPARTMENTS THEREBETWEEN, EACH COMPARTMENT BEING BOUNDED BY FOUR UPRIGHTS, ONE AT EACH CORNER THEREOF, EACH UPRIGHT INCLUDING CARTON GUIDING MEANS THEREALONG, SAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CONNECTING LINKS, EACH LINK EXTENDING BETWEEN AN ADJACENT PAIR OF UPRIGHTS

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